Tour Guide (Elem)

[I'sona]

As there food arrived I’sona listened, surprised at the speed but quickly realizing there were not many others within the restaurant. Holding out her own plate she offered it, she enjoyed both Kelp and Salad so it did not matter to her which she ate, “You are wanting to switch?” Even as she spoke she popped a carrot into her mouth, grinning widely at his explanation of how he learned Char. It was much hard for others to speak it because they did not enjoy the sound but it gave her a nostalgic feeling of being home. She was having trouble choosing where she wanted to take Elem next and settled for asking more about his home and drinking her water. “You are being homesick sometimes?” I’sona knew how that felt and felt a pang of sympathy for the man. “We is never going far from water. It is our home. Your home, Zeltiva, it was near water, yes? Since we not go far we not go to lots of places like you.” The thought saddened her a bit but not much. Riverfall was more than a task and she could not even comprehend that there were more places. She wanted to continue her line of questions but she was sure if she did they would never finish eating, rather she began to eat and surveyed the restaurant once more. She would have to eat here again. Turning back to Elem she watched him curiously. He was human and interesting. There was not many human people in Riverfall so maybe he was as strange to her as she to him. “Next we can be visiting the ‘meeting room’, it is where…” she paused, “events are held. Is very big and pretty.”

[Elem Bree]

Elem looked at the two plates and thought of a third option. "Water plant and dirt plant you eat, I eat." He smiled and dumped the two plates into one plate, mixing salad and kelp. "We can share." he pulled the stringy kelp apart and plopped it in his mouth. Any Zeltivan worth his salt had certainly forced down a mouthful of kelp in their lifetime, especially when food was scarce. Chewing on his watery cud, he listened to I'sona's take on home and being homesick. Once he finally got the kelp down and drank some water, he had his own viewpoint.

" I never thought it would be that way. The entire ocean is your home. From the maps I have seen at the Antiquities Society, most of Mizahar is water. If I were a Charoda, I would travel everywhere. It is much safer, surely. Even with whatever creatures live in the ocean, they probably don't abuse and kill for cruelty like most land dwellers do." His envy was fully aroused now, so why hide it? "I wish there was a way to travel the oceans like you can. I intend to find a way, once I can learn the language here. Most of the library's resources are in Tukant, which I cannot speak at all."

Having more water, satisfied with its clarity and cool temperature, he smacked his lips a bit and sighed happily. "Oh, you know what? I just thought of something. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I have no idea how to swim. I bet you are very graceful in the water. Could you help me learn how to?" it would be a wonderful way to get to know this woman, as well as scratch the surface of her glorious underwater domain.

[I'sona]

“No,” she agreed somberly, “but we are getting eated. Big fish eat little fish and lots of fishes is—are—bigger than us. They are not cruel like peoples who are liking to fight but fish have to eat and we” she pointed to herself, “do not fight.” I’sona was surprised by Elem’s sudden conviction, there was a light in his eyes that startled her. She blinked slowly. Collecting her thoughts. It was strange to hear someone long for the sea that much. Sailors lived on the sea but didn’t care much for being under it and she had grown used to the Konti who could follow her under the waves. “Tukant is language of the Akalak, they are…strange to me but they are helpful. One would teach you in library.” Of this she was mostly sure. The Akalaks were helpful. Terrifyingly huge and always had weapons but they didn’t seem like bad people. For moment her mind wandered, wondering both what the library would look like and not really being able to picture a giant blue man teaching Elem. The Charoda brought a hand up to smother her sudden giggles and smiled widely at the man. “I…am not always goodly swimmer. Sometimes I swim like an fish with one fin. But I can be teaching you how to swim.” Swimming lessons would be something easy to do. Sort of. She had only ever helped one person and that hadn’t gone smoothly. The memory suddenly fresh she looked anxiously over Elem, a frown on her face. “You are goodly at holding your breath?” it was important because she couldn’t—didn’t—want to have that same feeling again. Picking at some more of the food their food she felt her sudden nervous knot loosen a bit. It would be fine. She hoped.

[Elem Bree]

The natural order of things, as I'sona so eloquently explained, seemed to make much sense to Elem. It was akin to what Kavala had said about Rak'keli and restoring balance. He had never seen a fish larger than a human, or in this case, Charoda. The thought of beasts that large were reserved for the sailors' tales of Zeltiva. It gave him a slight shiver to imagine such beasts. It still didn't dissuade him from wanting to swim among the sea dwellers, though.

"The library. Yes, of course. Well, between my work at the Sanctuary and the Antiquities Society, I suppose I will be increasing my workload." He chuckled to himself. He would never have suspected that he would be studying harder than he did at the University. It seemed she was having a little laugh to herself, so it seemed to mesh, their laughing. "Swimming like a one finned fish? Surely not. You were born in the water!" She was surely joking, Elem's laughter continuing to echo through the cavernous glass of the restaurant. "I appreciate the swimming help, however."

He could see she was worried, especially when asking him if he could hold his breath. Reaching over and patting her rubbery hand, he added, "Listen, if it makes you feel better, we can do it in the shallows. I trust you." He removed his hand as easily, not wanting to creep her out.

[I'sona]

“The Sanctuary? Antiquatics?” she blinked in confusion, sancturary she recognized but not the other, “They are being your jobs?” She shook her head and laughed delightedly. Most people did not praise her for her swimming, it was nice to have someone think so highly of the water and of her. And she truly appreciated his comfort, her smile softening into something less gleeful and more content. Elem was a good person she decided. It was a sudden and it stuck, her mind immediately cataloguing them as friends. Holding her hand out she stood and took his hand, patiently urging him to stand as she spoke. “We can go to lessons on a day soon. Whenever you like to. You can be finding me in my room.” She grinned sharply again, “And I is born in water but I is not born swimming. We is learning, like everything else. Is you wanting to see where they have…gatherings next? They are big and—big.” The Charoda was sure there were other words but the elegant room only seemed big and able to fit all the peoples of Riverfall inside. It amazed her and she had seen nothing of their gatherings but she could only imagine they would be a sight to the see. “Why do you likes the water so much?” As she questioned she began to lead him to the room, it was grand in her eyes like most things and a little pleased sigh left her as she gestured. Deepening her voice with a giggle again. “This is being the gathering room, sir.”

[Elem Bree]

Elem smiled and replied, "Yes, the Sanctuary is a healing center for people and animals outside of the city gates. Antiquities means very old things of value. The Society unearths...or rather, digs up things from the Akalak city that was here before Riverfall. Long ago. Some of it is rumored to be in the bottom of the Suvan." Taking the hand offered, he smiled and took the cue to stand. He appreciated her own delight; it was really rather infectious.

It still made little sense that someone born underwater would not be born swimming, but he let the issue rest. No reason to be obstinant about it. "Yes, I would enjoy seeing more." As the pair began moving from the restaurant area, he continued on, trying to answer her question and expand on his previous answer. "I like the water because it is an undiscovered place. Sure, there are many places of mystery be found on Mizahar, but even when all of the lands are settled, the deep will still remain untouched. If Valkalah, which is the city that was here first, is at the bottom of the sea, there must be many more incredible discoveries down there."

They walked through glass tunnels, Elem's eyes naturally gravitating to turtles and schools of fish as they darted by, the light filtering from the surface above them. "also, while it may be very common for you, I find the undersea to be the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I realize there is danger, but the beauty and possibilities outweigh any risk of life or limb."Arriving at the massive meeting area, Elem's eyes widened even more. A beautiful blue horizon of life teemed in every direction, truly showcasing the unfathomable beauty of the deep. "It's just ..so beautiful."

[I'sona]

“I think I would be liking it there.” She said with a grin, “The society is sounding nice, I would likes to be searching the bottom…maybe you can be taking me one time? To see things that are being hidey.” There was a slight plea in her voice mostly masked by curiosity. It would be like treasure hunting all the time, the thought alone enthralled her and sent a pleased hum through her. To be able to find out anything with other people who wanted to do the same. “Yes, the waters is all perfect, always. I will always be loving it, it is me.” The Charoda said fiercely but a soft smile was on her face as she watched Elems awe at the room and the manner in which he spoke of the sea. It made her happy that someone felt as she did. Sailors loved the sea, Svefra loved the sea but rarely did she hear any speak of it so reverently. “But like you is loving the sea I is too loving the land peoples and all their strange things. It is new.” I’sona would always love the sea and would never stray far but the land fascinated her in ways she couldn’t explain, perhaps she felt it lacked the beauty she was used to but it had its own beauty which she admired. She reached out to squeeze his hand gently much like her mother always did to her. He was interesting, she was glad she had agreed to teach him what she could of swimming. “Our tour is being almost done. Unless you is wanting to see what the rooms looks like?”

[Elem Bree]

"To see things that are being hidey indeed, dear." Elem sat there looking at I'sona while his mind began to craft a brilliant idea. If he could learn to swim, perhaps there were ways to get to thebottom. He knew that there were gadgeteers and engineers of sorts in Zeltiva. Perhaps there were people like that in Riverfall. Surely hundreds of years and an entire Society devoted to searching Valakalah would bring about the means to search the ruins. Of course, there were plenty of Konti around. "I would be happy to take you anytime. I would like to explore the deep but since I can't breathe water like you, it limits things a bit. I am sure there is a way."

Elem could understand the duality between them clearly. She wanted to know of land people and air breathers while he sought their polar opposite. It seemed natural enough to him. He was glad he was alive now, when such things could be reasoned and searched for. A hundred or so years ago, it was probably more about survival. It still was, but not to the extent that earlier generations had to suffer. "I suppose we will have to start some swimming practice so we can at least explore the shallows." He smiled and his eyes traveled from her form to the glass and the creatures out there.

I'sona's hand gently squeezed his own and Elem quickly returned his focus to her. He really felt like he had found a friend. Perhaps more than that. A compatriot, an ally. It was a very good feeling for those who were otherwise clearly outsiders. Thinking for a moment, he cleared his throat, attempting to convey his sentiment properly.

" Thank you I'sona. You be big friend. I like many times with you."

He smiled and added, "I hoped I said that right. I think the rooms are fine, maybe I will have one when I figure out how to swim."

[I'sona]

I’sona beamed at Elem. Pleased he would think to live in Blue Gem and laughed delightedly at his compliment. It wasn’t said entirely correct but his sincerity made her happy. “You says it very goodly.” she assured him, “I is—I am feeling you are too. The biggest friend!” The Charoda spoke cheerfully and stared around the room once more before gesturing back the way they came. “By the time you is—are getting the room here you is being able to be a fish! Maybe you will even has gills. I be walking you to the beginning again.” It was an offer and insistent, she had to finish her tour properly after all. It would be rude not too. And she simply wanted a few more with the human. He was fun and he did not make her anxious like the Akalak did at times. Walking Elem to the entrance she didn’t chatter much, simply offered her arm as they made their way back. The next time they met she would ask him more about his society of ‘people-and-thing-finders’. It was something she would like to join as well, maybe she could do it with him and find things they could under the water. It would be like treasure hunting all the time! “I is seeing you on your lessons.” she said one they reached the entrance again, “You will be swimming goodly then!” She gave him a large smile as they parted ways, growing more excited about her lessons the more she thought of it. This would go much better than last time, she had no doubt.

[Jackalope]

I'sona

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Socialization	+5	Elem: Speaks Some Char
Teaching	+3	Instructing Random Char Phrases
Observation	+2	Correct Use of Pronouns in Common
		Offering Swim Lessons
		Giving a Tour
		Sanctuary is a Place of Healing

Elem

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+2	Exchanging Plesantries
Socialization	+5	Speaking Char to a Charoda
Teaching	+2	Instructing Basic Common Grammar
Anthropology	+1	Charoda Are Part of the Food Chain
		Layout of the Blue Gem

Witty Remark Here

Good thread! Keep working at these language threads! Do enough of them over an amount of time and we can bump up your proficiency! Hoping to see more threads between you two! I enjoy how you write the lower skills in the languages! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.